Neck and head support

ABSTRACT

Embodiments disclose a head and neck support cushion. The cushion includes a selectively inflatable cushion having: a central elongate portion having a first end opposite a second end, a first side portion extending from the first end of the central elongate portion, and a second side portion extending from the second end of the central elongate portion, wherein the first side portion is substantially parallel to the second side portion; one or more inflation actuators coupled to the cushion and operable to remotely inflate the cushion; at least two fastening members, wherein a first fastening member is coupled to the first side portion and a second fastening member is coupled to the second side portion; and wherein the first and second fastening members are operable to fasten to each other. A method of operating the same is provided, as are other aspects.

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to head and neck support and safety, and more particularly to an inflatable head and neck safety support cushion and bib.

BACKGROUND

When infants, toddlers, and small children sitting or riding in car seats, carriers, walkers, strollers, swings, jumpers, high chairs, and similar seat-like devices are drifting off to sleep they are frequently prematurely awakened when their heads fall forward, backward, or sideways. Similarly, their heads may fall forward, backward or sideways due to bumps or acceleration variations during travel. In addition to being prematurely awakened, such infants, toddlers, and children in many instances also suffer injuries, such as soreness and contusions, causing pain and crying, resulting from neck/head twisting, turning and sudden shifts. These same mishaps may also befall an adult passenger who may be resting and/or sleeping while traveling.

Conventionally, a pillow or blanket may be placed behind a head/neck, or multiple pillows or blankets around the head/neck. However, in the single pillow instance, the front and sides of the head and neck remain vulnerable; and in the multiple pillow/blanket instance, the person may be uncomfortable and overheated, making it difficult to sleep and sit/rest in comfort. Conventional head collars do not solve the above problems.

Similarly, the surgical pillows patients may wear around their neck when recovering from head and/or neck injuries may not prevent the head from rolling out of a desired position.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved head and neck support cushion.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a selectively inflatable cushion having: a central elongate portion having a first end opposite a second end, a first side portion extending from the first end of the central elongate portion, and a second side portion extending from the second end of the central elongate portion, wherein the first side portion is substantially parallel to the second side portion; one or more inflation actuators coupled to the cushion and operable to remotely inflate the cushion; at least two fastening members, wherein a first fastening member is coupled to the first side portion and a second fastening member is coupled to the second side portion; and wherein the first and second fastening members are operable to fasten to each other.

According to another aspect, a method is provided. The method includes fastening a first fastening member of a selectively inflatable cushion to a second fastening member of the selectively inflatable cushion behind a neck of a user, wherein a central elongate portion of the selectively inflatable cushion is positioned in front of the neck of the user; inflating the selectively inflatable cushion with a remote inflation actuator; sensing a pressure level in the inflated selectively inflatable cushion; and determining whether the sensed pressure level exceeds a threshold value.

Still other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention may be readily apparent from the following detailed description by illustrating a number of example embodiments and implementations, including the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention. The present invention may also be capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details may be modified in various respects, all without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. The invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of the apparatus according to embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates another isometric view of the apparatus according to embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top plan view of the apparatus according to embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom plan view of the apparatus according to embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates a left side view of the apparatus according to embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates a right side view of the apparatus according to embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of the apparatus according to embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates a rear view of the apparatus according to embodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates a wearer wearing the apparatus in a deflated configuration according to embodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates a wearer wearing the apparatus in an inflated configuration according to embodiments.

FIG. 11 shows a flowchart illustrating a method of operating the apparatus according to embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus and methods for supporting a head and neck of a wearer. In particular, embodiments of the present invention may provide an inflatable cushion or pillow that may be worn or fastened around a wearer's neck. When the inflatable cushion is deflated it may lay flat against a wearer's chest and shoulders to form substantially a U-shaped bib or collar. When the inflatable cushion is inflated, the U-shape inflates around the wearer's neck. This inflated state or configuration may favorably position the head back against a car seat or baby seat to minimize a sudden forward movement of the head during vehicular impact, and may prevent a whiplash effect that may occur during vehicular impact. Additionally, the inflatable cushion may include two side supports, each extending substantially perpendicular from a respective end of the U, to support a wearer's head proximate the wearer's ears. Advantageously, the two side supports may prevent a wearer's head from moving side-to-side and may provide impact protection against the head rest portion of a child or baby seat.

The inflatable cushion may be remotely inflated by an inflation actuator, such as a hand held manual or electrically automatic pump, that may be coupled to the inflatable cushion via a hose or other conduit. In the example of a child wearing the inflatable cushion in a back seat of a vehicle, a driver or passenger in the front seat of the vehicle may operate the inflation actuator to inflate the inflatable cushion. Advantageously, the remotely inflatable cushion provides for the driver/passenger to inflate the cushion after a child has fallen asleep, or in other instances, without interrupting the trip or the child. The degree of support of the remotely inflatable cushion may also be adjusted remotely via a pressure release valve.

These and other embodiments adapted to support and protect a head and neck of a wearer, and methods of operating the same are described below with reference to FIGS. 1-11. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Like reference numerals are used throughout the specification to denote like elements.

Referring now in specific details to FIGS. 1-11, a remotely inflatable cushion 100 (“cushion”) in accordance with embodiments of the invention is shown. The terms “cushion” and “pillow” may be used interchangeably throughout the specification. The cushion 100 includes a central elongate portion 102, having a first end 104 and a second end 106. The first end 104 is opposite the second end 106. A first side portion 108 extends from the first end 104 in a first direction indicated by directional arrow 110, and a second side portion 112 extends from the second end 106 in the same first direction 110 as the first side portion 108. The first side portion 108 and the second side portion 112 are substantially parallel to each other with an appropriate distance between them to allow positioning around the intended user's neck. A top planar view (FIG. 3) of the central elongate portion 102, the first side portion 108, and the second side portion 112 may show the cushion 100 to have substantially a U-shape, although other shapes may be used. The central elongate portion 102, the first side portion 108 and the second side portion 112 may be integrally formed. In other embodiments, the central elongate portion 102, the first side portion 108 and the second side portion 112 may be formed separately and coupled to each other by any suitable coupling means.

The cushion 100 may further include a first side support 114 and a second side support 116. The first side support 114 may extend from a first surface 118 of the first side portion 108 such that when inflated, the first side support 114 is substantially perpendicular to the first surface 118. Similarly, the second side support 116 may extend from a first surface 120 of the second side portion 112 such that when inflated, the second side support 116 is substantially perpendicular to the first surface 120. The first side support 114 and the second side support 116 may be integrally formed with the first side portion 108 and the second side portion 112, respectively. In other embodiments, the first side support 114 and the second side support 116 may be formed separately and coupled to the first side portion 108 and the second side portion 112, respectively, by any suitable coupling means. Each of the central elongate portion 102, the first side portion 108, the second side portion 112, the first side support 114 and the second side support 116 may be of any suitable shape, such as a polygon, square, triangle, circle, oval or the like. The cushion 100 may be any size suitable to comfortably support a head and neck of a user.

In some embodiments the cushion 100 may include an inflating member or inflatable bladder 122 shown in phantom in FIG. 2. In other embodiments, the cushion 100 may be hollow to form the inflatable bladder itself. In some embodiments, each of the elongate portion 102, the first side portion 108, the second side portion 112, the first side support 114 and the second side support 116 may include an inflating member or air/inflatable bladder 122 received therein.

The cushion 100 may be made from material that is washable, flame-retardant, water-proof, and bacteria-proof. The cushion material may allow heat and perspiration to escape or be wicked away to prevent rashes and discomfort for the wearer. In some embodiments the cushion may be covered by a selectively removable cover 124 (FIG. 4), which may be washable, flame-retardant, water-proof, bacteria-proof, and allow heat and perspiration to escape or be wicked away. The cover 124 may include cover fasteners 126 to secure the cover 124 around the cushion 100. The cover fasteners 126 may be, for example, snaps, buttons, zippers, hook and loop tape, and other suitable fasteners.

In some embodiments the cushion 100 or cover 124 may include one or more pockets 128 (FIG. 5). The pocket 128 may receive and/or retain, for example, electronic device adaptors, audio speakers, aroma therapeutic pouches, etc. In other embodiments, a speaker and microphone system, electronic device adaptors, music device adaptors and aroma therapeutic pouches may be integrally formed with the cushion 100.

The cushion 100 may include at least two fastening members 130. More fastening members may be used. A first fastening member 130 may be coupled to the first side support 114 and a second fastening member 131 may be coupled to the second side support 116. The first fastening member 130 may be selectively fastened to the second fastening member 131 such that the cushion 100 may be secured around the neck of the wearer. Each fastening member 130 and 131 may comprise a length of material 132 and a fastener 134. In other embodiments, the fastening member may solely include a fastener and not a length of material. The length of material 132 may be a textile or any other suitable material. The length of material 132 may be coupled at one end to the cushion 100 and at another opposite end to the fastener 134. The fastener 134 may be any fastening means, such as, for example, hook and loop tape, snaps, buttons, hooks and grommets. The fastening members 130 may be adjustable such that the cushion 100 may be secured around the neck of the wearer with different levels of restriction. For example, with hook and loop tape fasteners 134, the wearer can adjust how tight the cushion 100 is worn around the neck by adjusting where the hook and loop tape fasteners 134 are fastened to each other.

The cushion 100 may be coupled to one or more inflation actuators 136 operable to inflate the cushion 100. An inflation actuator 136 may be, for example, a manual or electric automatic air pump. Other suitable inflation actuators may be used. The cushion 100 may include one or more ports 138 adapted to couple to the one or more inflation actuators 136. In some embodiments the inflation actuator 136 may include an inflator 140 and a conduit 142 or tube. The conduit 142 may be 5-6 feet long, for example to reach from the rear seat in car to the front seat, or any other suitable length. A first end 144 of the conduit 142 may be selectively coupled to the port 138 in the cushion 100. A second end 146 of the conduit 142 may be coupled to the inflator 140, such as a pump, for example. In some embodiments, the inflator 140 may be a manually compressible, self-inflating shaped bulb, as are conventionally known. When compressed, the inflator 140 may force air through the conduit 142 and into the cushion 100 via the port 138. The inflation actuator 136 may include a release valve 148. The release valve 148 may be operable to release air from the cushion 100, to decrease an inflation level or pressure in the cushion 100.

The cushion 100 may include a pressure system 150, shown in phantom in FIG. 6, including a pressure sensor 152, a logic processor 154, a memory 156, a display 158 and an input device (now shown). The pressure sensor 152 may detect or sense the pressure of air inside the cushion 100. The pressure sensor 152 may, for example, be coupled to an interior of the cushion 100 by any suitable coupling means. The pressure sensor 152 may be any sensor for sensing air pressure. In some embodiments, the display 158 may be coupled to, or integrally formed with, the inflation actuator 136 to indicate the air pressure value in the cushion 100. The pressure sensor 152 may send a signal to the logic processor 154 of the current pressure, which may then be displayed on the display 158. In some embodiments, a wearer 160 or other user (e.g. a parent or passenger in front seat) may enter, via the input device, a pressure level limit for the pressure system 150, such that the air pumped into the cushion 100 may not exceed the limit. This pressure level limit may be stored in the memory 156. In some embodiments, the wearer 160 or other user may store different pressure level limits for different wearers of the cushion 100. In addition a pressure relief valve may be included to prevent over-pressurization.

The operation of the safety support cushion 100 will now be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1-10, and the flowchart in FIG. 11 illustrating a method 1100 for operating the cushion 100 according to one or more embodiments. The method 1100 includes fastening the first fastening member 130 to a second fastening member 131 behind the neck of the wearer 160, wherein the central elongate portion 102 of the cushion 100 is positioned in front of the neck of the wearer 160 in 1102. The cushion 100 may be deflated when fastened around the wearer's neck (FIG. 9). When deflated, the cushion 100 may also be used as a bib to keep the wearer's clothes clean while the wearer 160 is eating, for example. The wearer 160 or other user may adjust a fastened position of the first fastening member 130 relative to the second fastening member 131, to comfortably and securely position the cushion 100 on the wearer 160. The wearer 160 or other user may then actuate the inflation actuator 136 to inflate the cushion 100 in 1104 (FIG. 10).

In embodiments where the elongate portion 102, side portions 108, 112, and side supports 114, 116, may be individually or independently inflated, each may be coupled to a separate dedicated inflation actuator. Alternatively, the inflation actuator may include a plurality of valves to couple to each of the elongate portion 102, side portions 108, 112, and side supports 114, 116. Any combination of the elongate portion 102, side portions 108, 112, and side supports 114, 116 may be inflated. For example, the elongate portion 102, and side portions 108, 112 may be inflated by a first inflation actuator, while the side supports 116 are inflated by a second inflation actuator.

In some embodiments, the wearer 160 may be unable to actuate the inflation actuator 136. In those instances, another user may actuate the inflation actuator 136. For example, the wearer may be a child, and as the child falls asleep or after the child falls asleep, the other user may inflate the cushion 100. The other user may inflate the cushion 100 remotely from a front seat of a vehicle, for example, while the child is secured in a back seat of the vehicle.

In 1106, a pressure level of the inflated cushion 100 may be sensed by the pressure sensor 152 of the pressure system 150. A determination may be made in 1108 by the logic processor 154, for example, whether the sensed pressure level exceeds a threshold value or limit. As described above, the sensed pressure level may be compared to a stored pressure level in the memory 156 of the pressure system 150. If the sensed pressure level exceeds the stored pressure threshold or limit, the release valve 148 may be automatically or manually actuated to release some of the air (deflate) in the cushion 100. In other embodiments, the pressure system 150 may include a stop mechanism (not shown) to prevent the inflation actuator 136 from inflating the cushion 100 beyond a pre-set limit.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments and methods thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular apparatus, systems, or methods disclosed, but, to the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a selectively inflatable cushion having: a central elongate portion having a first end opposite a second end, a first side portion extending from the first end of the central elongate portion, and a second side portion extending from the second end of the central elongate portion, wherein the first side portion is substantially parallel to the second side portion and designed with an appropriate distance between the first side and second side to allow positioning around an intended user's neck; one or more inflation actuators coupled to the cushion and operable to inflate the cushion; at least two fastening members, wherein a first fastening member is coupled to the first side portion and a second fastening member is coupled to the second side portion; and wherein the first and second fastening members are operable to fasten to each other.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inflation actuator comprises a conduit configured to couple the inflation actuator to the cushion.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inflation actuator is controlled remotely.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elongate portion, the first side portion and the second side portion are integrally formed in substantially a U-shape.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising one or more inflatable bladders positioned within the cushion, and coupled to the one or more inflation actuators.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one or more inflation actuators is a manual air pump.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one or more inflation actuators is an electric air pump.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pressure sensor coupled to the cushion and adapted to sense a pressure inside of the cushion.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the pressure sensor is configured to control operation of the inflation actuators.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a first side support extending from the first side portion, the first side support substantially perpendicular to a surface of the first side portion; and a second side support extending from the second side portion, the second side support substantially perpendicular to a surface of the second side portion, wherein the first side support is substantially parallel to the second side support.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein each of the central elongate portion, the first side portion, the second side portion, the first side support and the second side support are individually selectively inflatable.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pressure relief valve.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a selectively removable cover operable to receive the cushion.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein at least one of the cushion and the removable cover are formed from a washable material.
 15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein at least one of the cushion and the removable cover further comprises one or more pockets.
 16. A method comprising: fastening a first fastening member of a selectively inflatable cushion to a second fastening member of the selectively inflatable cushion behind a neck of a user, wherein a central elongate portion of the selectively inflatable cushion is positioned in front of the neck of the user; inflating the selectively inflatable cushion with a remote inflation actuator; sensing a pressure level in the inflated selectively inflatable cushion; and determining whether the sensed pressure level exceeds a threshold value.
 17. The method of claim 16 further comprising: adjusting the pressure level in the inflated selectively inflatable cushion based on the sensed pressure level.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein adjusting the pressure level further comprises: actuating a release valve of the remote inflation actuator to deflate the selectively inflatable cushion.
 19. The method of claim 16 further comprising: adjusting a fastened position of the first fastening member relative to the second fastening member.
 20. The method of claim 16 wherein determining whether the sensed pressure level exceeds the threshold value further comprises: comparing the sensed pressure level to a pressure level stored in a memory. 